From distillery to distillery in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont

The Fourvoirie site marks one of the entrances to the Chartreuse Desert. One of the bridges, built in the 13th century, gave its name to the village of Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. On the right bank of the Guiers Mort, the Carthusians once started a major metallurgical industry, which continues today in the Saint-Laurent plain. On the other bank, the monks established a distillery, which was destroyed by a landslide in 1935.

Details

22700259
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 238 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 245 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 565 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 387 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the town hall and tourist office.

(S/E) Head to Rue des Moulins, then Rue Pasteur. Turn left, then right onto Avenue Charles de Gaulle until you reach the junction with Avenue Jean Jaurès. Follow this road to the left and cross the bridge.

(1) Turn right onto Chemin des Martins, then immediately turn left and climb the stairs to reach Chemin des Martins at the top. Follow it to the left until the second crossroads, turn right onto Chemin du Souvenir Français and continue straight on until the Provenches crossroads.

(2) In the hamlet, turn right and take the path with the yellow marker, following the direction of "Fourvoirie".

(3) At the intersection, descend to the right to the old forges and cross the bridge to discover the Fourvoirie distillery, which was the production site of the famous Chartreuse liqueur from 1862 to 1935, with an interruption from 1903 to 1929.

(4) Turn back and cross the bridge again.

(3) Continue straight ahead towards Piquetière.

(5) The route continues along an ancient Roman road, the Voie Sarde, dotted with works by the Artists of Chartreuse (see Cote Curt Art Trail). Pass the hamlet of Piquetière.

(6) Take the path on the left. Then keep right at the fork to descend to the hamlet of Bourdoires.

(7) Cross the hamlet, following the yellow markers and signs for Le Burdin and Aiguenoire. At Le Burdin, turn right onto the D102.

(8) The new Chartreuse distillery, inaugurated in August 2018, is visible on the right. This production site is not open to visitors, but you can learn about the history and manufacturing process of Chartreuse at the Caves de la Chartreuse in Voiron.

Once at the intersection, turn left towards Aiguenoire. At the hamlet, continue straight ahead until you reach the gas installation. Then turn left towards La Rosette and join the D520.

(9) Cross carefully and follow the path opposite. Once on the banks of the Guiers Mort, turn left to follow it.

(10) At the waste collection centre, turn left to cross the bridge over the Guiers Mort river, then follow the path on the left that runs along the riverbank to Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. Just after the junction with Rue Paul Bert, turn right onto Avenue Charles de Gaulle. At the end, turn right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 412 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 417 m - Chemin des Martin. Bridge over the - Guiers (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 1.15 - alt. 495 m - Provenches
  4. 3 : km 2.55 - alt. 474 m - Access to the old distillery
  5. 4 : km 2.89 - alt. 443 m - Former distillery
  6. 5 : km 3.56 - alt. 548 m - Voie Sarde
  7. 6 : km 4.87 - alt. 557 m - Piquetière
  8. 7 : km 5.67 - alt. 499 m - Hameau des Bourdoires
  9. 8 : km 6.97 - alt. 402 m - New Chartreux distillery
  10. 9 : km 8.63 - alt. 387 m - Route D520
  11. 10 : km 9.64 - alt. 391 m - Recycling centre
  12. S/E : km 13.19 - alt. 412 m - Town hall car park

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Karline73
Karline73

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike through the lovely forests of Chartreuse and its heritage sites
but a slightly long return trip to Saint Laurent du Pont along the riverbank, about 3 km
without any particular interest.

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Franchi Christiane
Franchi Christiane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in early October 2025, very easy as there is little elevation gain.
the last part is a bit long. Christiane F.

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nanourando38
nanourando38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with little elevation gain and plenty of shade.
Genuine historical interest.

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Isabelle94
Isabelle94

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, not very difficult hike with a visit to the old Chartreux distillery in Fourvoirie and a beautiful waterfall on the Guiers Mort river.

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Laurentd38
Laurentd38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A little-visited route, I find the distilleries rather uninteresting. The first one is undergoing renovation, so there is little to see. On Saturdays, you can apparently visit it with the people who are renovating it.
The Fourvoirie site, on the other hand, is very nice. On the way back up, there are a few sculptures by artists, which you have to look carefully for as they are sometimes hidden in the trees! What I liked most was the peace and quiet and the distance.

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gire38
gire38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful first part on the slopes of Chartreuse.
The old distillery is worth seeing. It is currently being renovated.
The return trip along the left bank of the Giers Mort is a bit long and monotonous. But it's the best choice for getting back to the starting point.

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gilbert.agnes@orange.fr
gilbert.agnes@orange.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

lovely walk

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